Anointing for the Journey

Preparing for the Journey  

Life is full of journeys, some expected and others unforeseen. As we prepare for these journeys, we often find ourselves deciding what is essential to carry forward and what must be left behind. What we take with us and what we release shapes our experience and transformation along the way. 

Preparation for a journey is not just about logistics, it’s also about mindset and heart. A new chapter in life often requires us to let go of old assumptions, habits, or fears that could weigh us down. Sometimes, preparation is about being open to something unexpected, a shift in direction that we could not have foreseen. 

In today’s scripture, we witness a profound moment of anointing. Mary’s act of love is more than an expression of devotion; it’s a preparation for what lies ahead. Just as we prepare for journeys in our lives, God prepares us for the possibilities before us, inviting us to trust in divine grace and transformation. This preparation is not about having every answer or eliminating uncertainty but about trusting that God’s grace will sustain and guide us.

Mary’s Act of Love  

Jesus arrives at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, dear friends who have shared in both grief and joy with him. As they gather, Mary does something unexpected, she anoints Jesus’ feet with costly perfume, wiping them with her hair. The fragrance fills the room, marking the moment as sacred.  

We know this act is deeply personal and profoundly symbolic. In ancient Jewish culture, anointing was often reserved for kings, priests, messiah’s, and the dead. By anointing Jesus, Mary acknowledges he revealed the fullness of God in flesh through his teachings and actions and also how this same revealing will lead to his impending death. A death that was not orchestrated by God but by those, in power, who committed Jesus to death, in order to extinguish his revelatory teaching that was threatening the oligarchical power structure. Mary does not merely offer a gift of extravagance; she recognizes and honors the path Jesus walked and is about to enter into. In doing so, she embodies the depth of devotion and the courage of love that sees beyond the moment into the unfolding divine purpose.

Of course, there always has to be some type of antagonist and we read that Judas objects, focusing on the economic waste rather than the spiritual significance. His concern, though seemingly pragmatic, reveals a heart that fails to understand true generosity and divine purpose. He misses the sacred meaning in Mary’s act, seeing only numbers rather than the outpouring of love, mercy, and honor. 

Jesus, however, affirms Mary’s action: "She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial." (John 12:7, CEB). He acknowledges that her anointing is a prophetic gesture, recognizing who he is and also symbolically preparing him for what is to come. This is not simply an act of worship; it is an act of preparation, signaling the transition from Jesus’ public ministry to his journey toward the cross.  

Isaiah’s words echo this theme: "Look! I’m doing a new thing; now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it?" (Isaiah 43:19, CEB). Just as God made a way in the wilderness for Israel, God is revealing something old, yet emphasized, through Jesus, an act of divine solidarity that signifies change must occur in order for the kingdom of God to be fully realized. Mary’s anointing is a sign of this transformation, a moment that signifies God’s continual engagement for communal salvation.  

Anointing as Transformation  

In Open & Relational Theology, God’s work is not static; it is dynamic, relational, and unfolding as it is always creating. God is not a distant conductor but an active participant, inviting us into an ongoing relationship of transformation. We are always looking ahead to what we can become. God’s love is persuasive rather than coercive, meaning that transformation occurs through our free and willing participation in God’s unfolding work, with whom we are co-creating. Mary’s act of anointing is a perfect illustration of this, the collaboration of human response with divine movements.  

From a United Methodist perspective, prevenient grace has already been at work within Mary’s awareness of Jesus’ path. Justifying grace is present in her decision to respond with devotion and love. Sanctifying grace is evident as this act prepares Jesus and his disciples for what is to come, setting them on the path toward ultimate transformation. Grace, my friends, is not passive; it moves, it calls, it invites us to be a part of God’s ongoing work in the world.  

Her anointing reveals that transformation requires an openness to both receiving and giving. She receives the awareness of Jesus’ path and responds with an extravagant act of devotion. Similarly, in our own lives, transformation often requires recognizing the moments when God is inviting us to participate—to love, to give, to prepare ourselves and others for what lies ahead.  

This anointing is also an act of release and resistance. Just as Mary poured out costly perfume, transformation often requires letting go of control, of old patterns, of preconceived notions about God’s work. To be anointed for a journey means trusting that God is indeed doing something with us because we have finally responded, even when we cannot fully see what lies ahead.  

Jesus himself embodies this transformation. His journey toward the cross is not one of passive resignation but of active trust in God his father; just as Abraham had active trust that God could rise Isaac from the dead. Mary’s act, then, is not just about Jesus; it is an invitation to all of us. We are invited to participate in God’s ongoing work, to prepare ourselves for what is to come, and to trust that the journey is one of grace and renewal.  

Being Anointed for the Journey  

We see anointing in many ways today:  A family is preparing for a new chapter in their life. With the possibilities of moving to a new place, starting a new job, or welcoming a child, this family is trusting God to guide them through both the excitement and uncertainty of what lies ahead. They must discern what to bring from their past experiences and what to leave behind to fully embrace the new season.  

Another anointing could be a community coming together after a crisis, anointing one another with encouragement and support, recognizing that resilience comes not just from individual strength but from collective grace.  

We also have a nation preparing for uncertainty, as leadership changes, policies shift, and communities wrestle with justice and responsibility. The separation of powers within the federal, state, and local governments, alongside the voices of the people, create challenges and many possibilities. In moments of change, God anoints us with wisdom and courage to navigate the unknown and even revealing where we should not go again..

Receiving and Offering Anointing  

God is always preparing us. The question is: Are we paying attention? How might God be anointing you for something new? I invite you to take time to reflect: What season of life are you entering? What do you need to let go of? What do you need to embrace? Consider past experiences: When has God prepared you for a journey before? How did you respond? How did it change you?  As hard as it may be, engage in acts of love, resistance, and service, just as Mary did, embracing possibilities to extend grace, mercy, and protection to others. Finally, trust that God is doing something with you, even when the path is unclear. Can you recognize where God is already at work in your life and community?  

Anointing is not about receiving, it is about sharing. How can you anoint others with love, grace, mercy, and encouragement? Who in your life needs a reminder that they are not alone in this ever changing world? By paying attention, actively engaging in peace, and advocating for the poor and needy, you can reveal Christ-like possibilities for those who are hurting the most. I pray that your heart will continue to be prepared for the truth that is being revealed through the messengers of Christ Jesus. Amen.